Rum is a liquor distilled from sugar cane juice or its by-product, namely molasses. This drink is stored in small iron, oak, or charcoal oak barrels to produce a light, golden, or dark rum (in order). This drink, which is usually sourced from the Caribbean and Latin America, is so versatile that it can be varied with a variety of other drinks, or drunk as is. Learn several ways to serve this popular drink.
Step
Method 1 of 3: Making Cocktails with Rum
Step 1. Try making a simple mixture
Mix rum with another drink, such as soda. Here's an easy way to enjoy rum in all its qualities. This drink can also be made in almost any bar.
- Try the classic Rum and Coke mix with 60 ml of light or dark rum and add dark cola to taste. Add ice and serve.
- Try a spicier mix called Dark n' Stormy, by pouring dark rum (usually Black Seal Gosling rum) into ginger beer (strong ginger soda) and ice. Slowly pour the rum down a spoon into the glass to give it a cloudy look, true to its name. Top with lime wedges and serve.
Step 2. Make a mojito
Try the classic rum cocktail, the mojito. Use bright rum, mint leaves, limes, sugar and club soda to make this refreshing drink.
- Put some lime wedges and fresh mint leaves in a glass and stir to release the flavor as desired. Add ice and 60 ml of bright rum. Fill the rest of the glass with club soda, then add the sugar and stir to add flavor.
- Try adding other fruit flavors to your mojito, such as strawberry and pineapple. You can use fresh fruit or just the juice.
Step 3. Make a fruity drink with daiquiri
Make a daiquiri by mixing bright rum with fresh lime juice and simple syrup (cooked sugar until it has a thick consistency). This drink usually uses almost any combination of fruit juice with basic ingredients.
- Make a basic recipe with 60 ml of bright rum, 45 ml of fresh lime juice and 15 ml of simple syrup with fruit like banana, strawberry, pineapple, etc.
- Make daiquiri with ice, or blend with ice cubes.
- Rub brown sugar and slices of your favorite fruit over the rim of the glass for a standard daiquiri.
Step 4. Try the more complex Mai Tai
Make Mai Tai using some more specific ingredients than other rum cocktails. Use orgeat (high-quality almond sugar syrup) and orange curacao (dried orange peel liquor) to make this thirst-quenching drink.
- Combine 60 ml of dark rum with 45 ml of lime juice, 15 ml of simple syrup, 30 ml of orange curacao and 15 ml of orgeat and pour in some ice. Garnish with lime wedges and min.
- If you don't have any special cocktail ingredients, feel free to substitute orgeat for cheaper almond syrup, and orange curacao for triple sec.
Method 2 of 3: Enjoying Rum As It Is
Step 1. Buy high quality rum
Try to get a quality "sip of rum" to enjoy it at room temperature without any other additives. Look for bottles from the Bahamas and Latin American countries for a more traditional variety.
- Look for high-quality bright rums by staying away from flavored or “overproofed” varieties, such as Bacardi 151. This drink has an ABV of 75% or more, instead of the standard 40% ABV.
- Look for high-quality gold rums by staying away from artificially colored rums for the traditional amber color of the drink. Although alcohol companies are not required to list the ingredients, usually expensive rums are not dyed.
- Look for high-quality dark rums by purchasing the more expensive varieties. For spiced rums, avoid cheap brands as they will darken the bright rum. Look for golden rums or even dark rums infused with spices like anise, cinnamon, pepper, and rosemary.
Step 2. Sip the rum slowly
Pour the rum into a small glass. Warm the glass with your hands and sip slowly to fully enjoy the taste of the rum.
- Sniff the rum from a distance so it doesn't hurt your nose, and take small sips to let the taste of the drink permeate your entire taste buds.
- Sip the rum at room temperature, or add ice if you prefer.
Step 3. Try the special rhum agricole or cachaça
Look for specialty alternatives to traditional rum to try new flavors. Rhum agricole and cachaça use only fresh sugarcane juice.
- This form of rum is considered “pure” and special because it uses fresh sugarcane juice instead of molasses and is not mixed with other ingredients.
- Try the rhum agricole or cachaça neat for a full taste. Cachaça is also commonly used for Caipirinha, a cocktail popular in Brazil, where cachaça originated.
Method 3 of 3: Adding Rum to Hot Drinks
Step 1. Try the hot butter rum
Enjoy the taste of rum when heated in this simple drink. Add a variety of fresh herbs and butter to enrich the taste of the rum.
- Combine brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves with butter. Put it in a cup containing 90 ml of dark rum and fill it with hot water.
- Try a creamy drink variation by adding hot milk instead of water.
Step 2. Mix the rum into the hot chocolate or coffee
Brew your favorite classic coffee or hot chocolate, then add 30-60 ml of rum for a boozy twist.
- Use instant hot chocolate, or make your own by heating whole milk and adding rum with bittersweet chocolate or cocoa powder.
- Mix the rum with freshly brewed strong coffee, including an espresso like Americano or latte. Add sugar or sweetener of your choice for added taste.
Step 3. Make the rum hot toddy
Use rum to make a traditional hot toddy. Mix honey and spices into this classic warming drink that has medical origins.
- Combine 30 ml of seasoned rum, 1 tablespoon honey and lemon in a cup, then fill with hot water and stir to dissolve honey. Add cinnamon sugar for taste.
- Replace spiced rum with gold or dark rum if you like, and add more fresh herbs and garnishes of your own creation, such as orange zest.
